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Patricia Whitehouse |
Widow’s victory after home battle
Pensioner to stay in home of 45 years
A WIDOW who was threatened with being thrown out of her family home of 45 years is celebrating a High Court victory.
Patricia Whitehouse, 75, was told that a bid by her landlady to take possession of the Netherhall Gardens flat she shared with her late husband, Ronald, had failed.
Mr Whitehouse, 80, died in November from a heart condition during a 10-month legal battle that ended in a judgment on Thursday.
Appeal court judges Lord Justice Waller, Lord Justice Rimer and Lord Justice Aitkens said the possession order issued by for the two-bedroom Hampstead home “was obviously wrong” and that Mrs Whitehouse had the right to stay permanently in the rented home.
Last July, the couple were told by a county court judge that the request to take possession of the home and provide them with an alternative was reasonable, even though the pair had lived there for four decades and played an active role in the area. Mrs Whitehouse, who worked with young people as a play worker, established the Netherhall Neighbourhood Association nearly 30 years ago.
She said they first discovered they may have to leave when they received a solicitor’s letter.
“He came along and said the landlords wanted us out and there was no point in fighting it because we would not win,” said Mrs Whitehouse.
The solicitor also handed the couple a brochure from an estate agent and told them they could choose another home, for a certain price. Later, the landlord offered them a flat in Cleve Road, West Hampstead, which they turned down.
The couple were given legal advice by the Camden Community Law Centre and were then represented by leading housing law barrister, Tracy Bloom, of the renowned Doughty Street Chambers.
They never had a formal contract – “it wasn’t how you did things in those days, it was all done on a handshake,” recalled Mrs Whitehouse – and this did not change when the current owner bought the property in 1969. But appeal judges found they had rights to stay in their home under the Housing Acts.
Now Mrs Whitehouse hopes to be able to enjoy her home once more.
She said: “I have been told they could try to take the case to the House of Lords, but it is unlikely. It has been a stressful time and I want to enjoy living in the place which is my home.” |
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